Nadia Murad, a Yazidi woman from Iraq who was trafficked as a sex slave to ISIS militants. EPA
Nadia Murad, a Yazidi woman from Iraq who was trafficked as a sex slave to ISIS militants. EPA
Nadia Murad, a Yazidi woman from Iraq who was trafficked as a sex slave to ISIS militants. EPA
Nadia Murad, a Yazidi woman from Iraq who was trafficked as a sex slave to ISIS militants. EPA

World

US

Ukraine sex crimes 'should alarm us all’, Yazidi Nobel Laureate tells UN

The UN is investigating allegations of rape by Russian and Ukrainian forces during weeks of brutal fighting

James Reinl
James Reinl
United Nations

April 13, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Nadia Murad, an Iraqi women’s rights activist who was once enslaved by ISIS extremists, on Wednesday sounded the alarm over women subjected to rape and sexual violence during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Addressing world powers in New York, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate said reports of sexual violence — which have been attributed to both Russian and Ukrainian forces — should “alarm us all”.

“Sexual violence is not a side effect of conflict, it is a tactic of war as old as time,” Ms Murad told the UN Security Council.

Ms Murad was among thousands of Yazidi women who were forced into sexual slavery by ISIS during the group’s push across western Iraq in 2014. Such armed forces “understand the destabilising effect of gender-based violence”, she said.

She called for the International Criminal Court to prosecute ISIS members and unveiled the “Murad Code” for gathering evidence of rape and other crimes in war zones and holding abusers to account. The scheme is backed and funded by Britain.

“I am appalled by the growing number of reports of sexual violence by Russian forces emerging from the conflict in Ukraine,” UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said in a statement.

“The launch of the Murad Code is a vital step towards helping and supporting survivors and bringing perpetrators to justice for their crimes.”

UN human rights monitors have tried to verify claims of sexual violence by Russian forces, including gang rape and rapes in front of children, as well as allegations of sexual violence at the hands of Ukrainian forces and civil defence militias.

A boy rides a bicycle past a house that was damaged by shelling in Andriivka village, not far from Kyiv. EPA
A boy rides a bicycle past a house that was damaged by shelling in Andriivka village, not far from Kyiv. EPA
A destroyed residential building in Mariupol, south-eastern Ukraine. Reuters
A destroyed residential building in Mariupol, south-eastern Ukraine. Reuters
Firefighters at work on the outskirts of Kharkiv, north-east Ukraine. EPA
Firefighters at work on the outskirts of Kharkiv, north-east Ukraine. EPA
A torn Ukrainian flag in front of a ruined Mariupol apartment building. Reuters
A torn Ukrainian flag in front of a ruined Mariupol apartment building. Reuters
Residents who cleared debris after Russian shelling eat lunch outside a damaged building in Makariv, near Kyiv. EPA
Residents who cleared debris after Russian shelling eat lunch outside a damaged building in Makariv, near Kyiv. EPA
Children play with a therapeutic dog at a shelter organised by volunteers in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine. Reuters
Children play with a therapeutic dog at a shelter organised by volunteers in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine. Reuters
A girl stands by the door of a bunker in Severodonetsk, in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, as Russian troops intensify a campaign to take the strategic port city of Mariupol. AFP
A girl stands by the door of a bunker in Severodonetsk, in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, as Russian troops intensify a campaign to take the strategic port city of Mariupol. AFP
A firefighter at work following a missile attack near Kharkiv International Airport. Reuters
A firefighter at work following a missile attack near Kharkiv International Airport. Reuters
A Ukrainian fighter walks in front of a destroyed house in Bohdanivka village, north-east of Kyiv. AFP
A Ukrainian fighter walks in front of a destroyed house in Bohdanivka village, north-east of Kyiv. AFP
Two women hug outside a heavily damaged apartment block following an artillery attack in Kharkiv. Reuters
Two women hug outside a heavily damaged apartment block following an artillery attack in Kharkiv. Reuters
Ukrainian soldiers guard the village of Barvinkove, as Russia's invasion on Ukraine continues. Reuters
Ukrainian soldiers guard the village of Barvinkove, as Russia's invasion on Ukraine continues. Reuters
Leonid Serdiuchenko, a Ukrainian commander, stands next to destroyed vehicles outside Barvinkove. Reuters
Leonid Serdiuchenko, a Ukrainian commander, stands next to destroyed vehicles outside Barvinkove. Reuters
A woman carries the portrait of Dmytro Stefienko, 32, a civilian killed during the war, during his funeral in Bucha, Ukraine. AP
A woman carries the portrait of Dmytro Stefienko, 32, a civilian killed during the war, during his funeral in Bucha, Ukraine. AP
A Russian soldier collects weapons from inside the Mariupol drama theatre in Ukraine. AFP
A Russian soldier collects weapons from inside the Mariupol drama theatre in Ukraine. AFP
Relatives and friends attend the funeral of Andriy Matviychuk, 37, who served as a territorial defence soldier, who was captured and killed by the Russian army in Bucha, Ukraine. AP
Relatives and friends attend the funeral of Andriy Matviychuk, 37, who served as a territorial defence soldier, who was captured and killed by the Russian army in Bucha, Ukraine. AP
Anatoliy Morykin, 45, left, mourns the death of his mother, Valentyna Morykina, 82, who died in a retirement home in Bucha during the Russian invasion. AP
Anatoliy Morykin, 45, left, mourns the death of his mother, Valentyna Morykina, 82, who died in a retirement home in Bucha during the Russian invasion. AP
Nadiya, 65, shows a hole in a wall of a building after shelling in Zalissya, Ukraine. EPA
Nadiya, 65, shows a hole in a wall of a building after shelling in Zalissya, Ukraine. EPA
A booby trap found by locals near their home in Zalissya. EPA
A booby trap found by locals near their home in Zalissya. EPA
Debris of a school bus near a damaged school that was a base for Russian troops in Bohdanivka, Ukraine. EPA
Debris of a school bus near a damaged school that was a base for Russian troops in Bohdanivka, Ukraine. EPA
A man examines the debris of a destroyed Russian tank in Bohdanivka. EPA
A man examines the debris of a destroyed Russian tank in Bohdanivka. EPA
President Joe Biden speaks to the media before boarding Air Force One at Des Moines International Airport, en route to Washington. AP
President Joe Biden speaks to the media before boarding Air Force One at Des Moines International Airport, en route to Washington. AP
Valentina Saroyan sits in the basement of a school in Yahidne, near Chernihiv, Ukraine. AP
Valentina Saroyan sits in the basement of a school in Yahidne, near Chernihiv, Ukraine. AP
Vasyl Cherepenko stands next to a mass grave at a cemetery in Yahidne, near Dnipro, Ukraine. AP
Vasyl Cherepenko stands next to a mass grave at a cemetery in Yahidne, near Dnipro, Ukraine. AP
Oksana, second from left, and Yevhen, right, talk with police officers next to their apartment building damaged by shelling in Irpin, Ukraine. AP
Oksana, second from left, and Yevhen, right, talk with police officers next to their apartment building damaged by shelling in Irpin, Ukraine. AP
Women bid farewell to relatives as they leave the Slovyansk central station in the Donbas region. AFP
Women bid farewell to relatives as they leave the Slovyansk central station in the Donbas region. AFP
The partially destroyed Mariupol drama theatre in Ukraine, hit on March 16 by an air strike. AFP
The partially destroyed Mariupol drama theatre in Ukraine, hit on March 16 by an air strike. AFP
A man embraces his wife as she prepares to board a train at Slovyansk central station in the Donbas region. AFP
A man embraces his wife as she prepares to board a train at Slovyansk central station in the Donbas region. AFP
A woman walks through a damaged apartment building after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP
A woman walks through a damaged apartment building after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP
A missile pierces the road in front of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration building amid Russia's attack on Ukraine. Reuters
A missile pierces the road in front of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration building amid Russia's attack on Ukraine. Reuters
A boy walks by unexploded Russian shells in the village of Andriyivka close to Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
A boy walks by unexploded Russian shells in the village of Andriyivka close to Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
Ukrainian tanks move down a street in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
Ukrainian tanks move down a street in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
A man walks past a storage place for burned armed vehicles and cars, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
A man walks past a storage place for burned armed vehicles and cars, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
Local residents stand on top of a Russian tank on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
Local residents stand on top of a Russian tank on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
Ukrainian families, who have fled Kherson amid the Russian invasion, watch a dolphin show at a hotel in Odesa, Ukraine. Reuters
Ukrainian families, who have fled Kherson amid the Russian invasion, watch a dolphin show at a hotel in Odesa, Ukraine. Reuters
Residents stand outside their apartments as shops burn after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP
Residents stand outside their apartments as shops burn after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP
Irina Szymanska holds her baby in a temporary shelter at the central train station for displaced people heading to Poland in Lviv, Ukraine. Getty Images
Irina Szymanska holds her baby in a temporary shelter at the central train station for displaced people heading to Poland in Lviv, Ukraine. Getty Images
A man walks in his yard, damaged by shelling, in the village of Andriivka, Ukraine. EPA
A man walks in his yard, damaged by shelling, in the village of Andriivka, Ukraine. EPA
Sixty-two-year-old Luba hugs a Ukrainian servicewoman in Andriivka. EPA
Sixty-two-year-old Luba hugs a Ukrainian servicewoman in Andriivka. EPA
A woman washes clothes in the yard of a ruined house in Andriivka. EPA
A woman washes clothes in the yard of a ruined house in Andriivka. EPA
Russian soldiers patrol a street in Volnovakha, in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. The picture was taken during a trip organised by the Russian military. AFP
Russian soldiers patrol a street in Volnovakha, in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic. The picture was taken during a trip organised by the Russian military. AFP
Russian mine clearers search for explosive objects in a building the Russian authorities say was damaged by Ukrainian shelling. AFP
Russian mine clearers search for explosive objects in a building the Russian authorities say was damaged by Ukrainian shelling. AFP
A woman reads a book as residents find shelter from shelling in a metro station in Kharkiv. Reuters
A woman reads a book as residents find shelter from shelling in a metro station in Kharkiv. Reuters
Firefighters try to contain a fire at a plant in Kharkiv following Russian shelling. Reuters
Firefighters try to contain a fire at a plant in Kharkiv following Russian shelling. Reuters
Farm owner Zlobina Lubov tends to her animals in the village of Malaya Rohan, Ukraine. Reuters
Farm owner Zlobina Lubov tends to her animals in the village of Malaya Rohan, Ukraine. Reuters
A bathtub is seen inside a building that was heavily damaged by shelling in Kharkiv. Reuters
A bathtub is seen inside a building that was heavily damaged by shelling in Kharkiv. Reuters
A man looks out of his window, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Borodianka. Reuters
A man looks out of his window, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Borodianka. Reuters
Soldiers 'came to my house and said go to the basement' Zinaida Makishaiva, 82, said, before they started to shoot around her. 'God saved my life,' she said. Reuters
Soldiers 'came to my house and said go to the basement' Zinaida Makishaiva, 82, said, before they started to shoot around her. 'God saved my life,' she said. Reuters
A mother waits for police officers to exhume the body of her son from a well at a fuel station in Buzova, Kyiv region. According to the head of the village, he was killed by Russian soldiers. Reuters
A mother waits for police officers to exhume the body of her son from a well at a fuel station in Buzova, Kyiv region. According to the head of the village, he was killed by Russian soldiers. Reuters

At the same meeting, Pramila Patten, the UN’s envoy against sex attacks in wartime, expressed “grave concern about the mounting allegations of sexual violence” in Ukraine and called for “swift and rigorous investigations”.

She also said that the millions of women and girls who have been forced from their homes by the fighting were at risk of “trafficking and exploitation” during the “fastest population flight this century”.

Russia has repeatedly denied attacking civilians since its invasion of Ukraine began on February 24. Russia’s deputy UN envoy Dmitry Polyanskiy this week denounced what he claimed was a western smear campaign that presented “Russian soldiers as sadists and rapists”.

Sima Bahous, the head of the UN Women agency, said this week that the large number of deployed “conscripts and mercenaries and the brutality displayed against Ukrainian civilians has raised all red flags” about rape and sexual abuse.

All sides in the Ukraine war have systems of conscription, where young men are required by law to do military service. Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of using mercenaries.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.

Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery

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Wydad Nahiri 21’, Hajhouj 90'

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Switch%20Foods%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Edward%20Hamod%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Plant-based%20meat%20production%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2034%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%246.5%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Based%20in%20US%20and%20across%20Middle%20East%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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HOSTS

T20 WORLD CUP 

2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland 

ODI WORLD CUP 

2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
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CHAMPIONS TROPHY 

2025: Pakistan; 2029: India  

Liz%20Truss
%3Cp%3EMinisterial%20experience%3A%20Current%20Foreign%20Secretary.%0D%3Cbr%3E%0DWhat%20did%20she%20do%20before%20politics%3F%20Worked%20as%20an%20economist%20for%20Shell%20and%20Cable%20and%20Wireless%20and%20was%20then%20a%20deputy%20director%20for%20right-of-centre%20think%20tank%20Reform.%0D%3Cbr%3E%0DWhat%20does%20she%20say%20on%20tax%3F%20She%20has%20pledged%20to%20%22start%20cutting%20taxes%20from%20day%20one%22%2C%20reversing%20April's%20rise%20in%20National%20Insurance%20and%20promising%20to%20keep%20%22corporation%20tax%20competitive%22.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 1', Kane 8' & 16') West Ham United 3 (Balbuena 82', Sanchez og 85', Lanzini 90' 4)

Man of the match Harry Kane

Results

5pm: Wadi Nagab – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Al Falaq, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)

5.30pm: Wadi Sidr – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Fakhama, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash

6.30pm: Wadi Shees – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Mutaqadim, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 – Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Bahar Muscat, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

7.30pm: Wadi Tayyibah – Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Poster Paint, Patrick Cosgrave, Bhupat Seemar

Anti-semitic attacks
The annual report by the Community Security Trust, which advises the Jewish community on security , warned on Thursday that anti-Semitic incidents in Britain had reached a record high.

It found there had been 2,255 anti-Semitic incidents reported in 2021, a rise of 34 per cent from the previous year.

The report detailed the convictions of a number of people for anti-Semitic crimes, including one man who was jailed for setting up a neo-Nazi group which had encouraged “the eradication of Jewish people” and another who had posted anti-Semitic homemade videos on social media. 

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed 

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Rating: 1 out of 4

Running time: 81 minutes

Director: David Blue Garcia

Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham

Eyasses squad

Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)

Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)  

Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)

Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)

Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)

Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)

Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)

Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)

Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)

Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)

Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)         

Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)

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About Takalam

Date started: early 2020

Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: HealthTech and wellness

Number of staff: 4

Funding to date: Bootstrapped

Retail gloom

Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.

It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.

The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.

Updated: April 13, 2022, 5:51 PM
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